What kind of organisms can be both primary and secondary consumers?

Omnivores are organisms that can consume both plants and animals, allowing them to function as both primary and secondary consumers within an ecosystem. As primary consumers, omnivores can feed on herbaceous plants, making them essential in transferring energy from the producers in the food web. Simultaneously, as secondary consumers, they can prey on other consumers, including herbivores or even other omnivores. This versatility allows omnivores to play a significant role in energy flow and nutrient cycling within their environments, adapting their diet based on the availability of food sources.

In contrast, herbivores primarily consume plants and are typically categorized as primary consumers, while carnivores are mainly meat-eating organisms that serve as secondary consumers in the food chain. Detritivores, on the other hand, consume decomposing organic matter and play a different ecological role, focusing on the breakdown of dead material rather than directly feeding on living plants or animals.